What Type of Drug is Meth?

Classification of Meth & Its Illegal Drug Variants

Meth is classified as a Schedule II drug, which means it is considered dangerous and has a high potential for abuse that can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1971 defined drug scheduling in hopes of creating an effective system for controlling the availability of potentially dangerous substances by limiting access through regulation. The production, sale, and possession of Schedule II drugs are strictly regulated. But illicit manufacture of this drug is common in clandestine laboratories across the country and abroad, making it readily available on the street for recreational users.

Criteria for Classifying Drugs as Schedule II Substances

The CSA divides drugs into five schedules based on their medical use and potential for addiction. Schedule I drugs have no medical value. When prescribing Schedule II to V drugs, doctors must follow specific protocols to reduce the chances of addiction or overdose.

Schedule I

Schedule I drugs have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. These substances are considered the most dangerous class of controlled substances because they have a high potential for addiction and abuse.

Schedule II

Drugs that fall under Schedule II have a high potential for abuse that could lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Doctors may prescribe them in limited amounts. Schedule II drugs are subject to stricter requirements than other schedules when prescribing, dispensing, and managing them.

Methamphetamine is classified as Schedule II controlled substance by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, meaning it has an accepted medical use but a high potential for abuse and dependence.

Combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone (Vicodin) per dose, cocaine, methadone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin are also considered Schedule II drugs.

There is currently only one legal methamphetamine product, Desoxyn, which has minimal use in treating obesity and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Schedule III

A Schedule III drug has accepted medical uses and a moderate to low physical and psychological dependence potential. Schedule III drugs include products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dose (such as Tylenol with Codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, and certain barbiturates.

Schedule IV

Schedule IV drugs are substances with a low potential for abuse and dependence. Tramadol, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Xanax, Valium, Ambien, and Ativan all fall under Schedule IV. The substances may be prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia, or muscle spasms.

Schedule V

Schedule V drugs have accepted medical uses and a low potential for abuse and dependence. Certain cough medicines containing small amounts of codeine, certain anti-diarrheal medications, and Lyrica (pregabalin) fall under this schedule. They are subject to the fewest when it comes to prescribing, dispensing, and managing them.

Do Schedule II Substances Have Medical Uses?

By definition, Schedule II substances have medical use but also come with a high potential for abuse and dependence. A drug must have large-scale clinical trials to back it up to have medical value.

Misuse of Schedule II substances can result in severe physical and psychological harm that may require professional rehabilitation services, like those offered at Guardian Recovery, to overcome.